Jim Strickland is a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits.
Jim writes extensively about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
Jim's Mailbag is a regular column featured at Stateside Legal where veterans, servicemembers, and family members can ask Jim their questions about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
Kidney Disease, Prostate Cancer
Notice of a modified matching program
VA provides notice that it intends to conduct a recurring program matching SSA Records with VA pension, compensation, and DIC records. The goal of this match is to identify beneficiaries, who are receiving VA benefits or earned income, and to reduce or terminate VA benefits, if appropriate. The match will include records of current VA beneficiaries.
How to check your VA claim, appeal, or decision review status online
Follow our step-by-step instructions for checking the status of your VA claim, appeal, or decision review online
Must You Sign-Up for MEDICARE Part D?
VA Health Care TRICARE Health Insurance
Do Veterans who have VA Health Care, TRICARE,
and other form of health care coverage
need to sign-up for Medicare Part D?
The reports of American decline
are greatly exaggerated
America is wealthy, influential,
powerful, and increasingly equal.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise
The Best of the VAWatchdogDotOrg
A compendium of carefully curated facts
and how-to articles that we scavenge
every day for you to use to improve
your standing with your VA.
The stuff you really need to know is here...go for it!
Real-time Worldwide Flight Traffic
Explore the skies around you or anywhere in the world using our live flight tracking map. Click on any aircraft or airport for a more detailed view, and use the layer icon in the top right corner to add weather layers and more.
Ringing in your ears? About 750 million people have this perplexing condition
VA can help Veterans manage their drinking
Here are warning signs that may indicate alcohol use disorder
It's Time the Pentagon Pulled the Plug on Fox News
Extremist propaganda should not be piped into military bases at taxpayer expense
5 things to know about how military veterans in Florida can teach without certification
Other states offer financial incentives for veterans
who want to become teachers, but none wave
certification requirements like Florida does.
'I shouldn't have to fight for it':
Shining a light on female veteran homelessness
US military recruitment crisis:
‘Why would I join?’
The US Army cut 60,000
unvaccinated service members
even while falling far short of
recruitment goals
I was not surprised, as the VA assumes that everything a veteran tells them is a lie, unless the
veteran can prove otherwise.
Florida hopes to recruit veterans to
“Our veterans have a wealth of knowledge
and experience they can bring to bear in the classroom and with this innovative approach they
will be able to do so for five years with a temporary certification as they work towards their degree,”
said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Leo Shane on the PACT Act
Leo Shane talked about the passage of the PACT Act, which will expand health care benefits for veterans' exposed to toxins during their military service.
Veterans Encouraged To Enlist For New Benefits
The United States Congress passed the PACT Act earlier this week, which will increase the number of veterans eligible for care by the millions.
Stars & Stripes Military and Veteran Insurance Guide
SGLI - Car Insurance
Renters Insurance
TriCare Health Terms
Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities:
Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program
Reach is Limited
Veterans Psych Evaluations
Brett Valette, Ph.D.
Providing Military Veterans Personalized Psychological and Medical Evaluations. Complete the Contact form, and you'll get a personal phone call from us. We listen, and want to know what you are going through. We provide Independent Medical Evaluations (IME), Independent Medical Opinions (IMO) and nexus letters for ratings reviews, secondary conditions, medical conditions, discharge upgrades, and many types of denied claims. We also provide Social Security Disability claim reports.
Some Wounds Can't Be Seen Contact Us Today
Health Benefits and Issues for Veterans
Find information about medical issues and health benefits for veterans
38 CFR Book C Schedule for Rating Disabilities
This collection tells you thestandards you must meet to be awarded a % rating for a given condition. Below we've selected a few of the most frequently needed sections of
Hearing Loss & Tinnitus
You Are Not Alone!
Right now is the time for you to
connect and begin to heal.
Right. Now.
VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION
A veteran is entitled to disability compensation if he or she were
(1) discharged or released from the military under conditions other than dishonorable,
(2) their disease or injury was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, and
(3) the disease or injury was not the
result of the their own willful
misconduct or abuse of drugs.
Your state provides you with a wide
array of benefits and professional representation...all for free.
Alabama
What You Won't Find Here
User Fees, Hidden Fees,
Rumors, Requests For Donations,
Mailing Lists or Registration Requirements
Section 1151 Claims
When something goes wrong and
the veteran suffers an injury or
death due to the negligence of
a federal employee, the veteran
or his/her spouse may pursue
claims under the
Bones, Joints, Muscle Injuries
Are You Scheduled For
C&P Service Clinician’s Guide
Get a head start
on the C & P
process...learn what the
examiner already knows
and
be prepared to win your claim!
Are You Having A Claims Crisis?
Delays? Misinformation?
Call
855 - 948 - 2311
Or Email
<Denis.McDonough@va.gov>
Yes, this really works.
Be sure to include your DOB, your last 4, contact info... a couple of numbers, your preferred email and such. Describe the problem as briefly as you can.
We’ve Got Your Six!
If you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree,
see if you qualify for UA Military Tuition Grant.
IHD, Pacemakers
Explore Your
THE VAWatchdogDotOrg has been advocating for veterans rights to their hard earned disability benefits since 2005. We publish carefully curated facts, not fiction or rumors from self proclaimed Internet experts.
The PACT Act is passed and now it's up to VBA to ratify the verbiage that Congress set up and start processing claims. What can you expect? The usual. Confusion will reign supreme and claims
will be inappropriately denied and many appeals will be filed. All that really matters is that you shouldn't wait to begin to file your well grounded claims today. Time to get busy! More updates here soon.../s/ Jim
Need A Little Help?
Start Here...
Below you'll find much of the law, the regulations and the rules that govern our benefits. Doing your own research and understanding what effect all this has on you can be an onerous task but these are some of the things you need to understand. Taking the time to learn this stuff will bring you a lifetime of benefits...
Go For It!
What You'll Find Here
Up-To-Date News About Your Benefits,
Headlines Important To You, How-To Articles
& Links to Pros Who Can Help
Welcome Home
The VA Watchdog Dot Org
Detailed Claims Data Status Reports
Reports contain data covering claims inventory, claims backlog, claims accuracy, and Fully Developed Claims.
Question:
Since the VA adopted the new mileage application via the internet, I haven't received any travel money. I checked with my travel clerk and he told me that there is a big back log here in Florida. Have others experienced this problem? Thank you Jim.
Jim's Reply:
I'm in Florida so I feel your pain.
We're supposed to be reimbursed a per mile amount for certain travel to and from medical care. In my time with VHA I've seen long lines and over an hour wait to receive a few dollars gas money. Then we went to a fill-out-the-form system. The check-in kiosks were introduced a few years back and those worked well other than you had to remember to sign out and sign in again to submit the travel voucher.
Not all that long ago I checked in to my small clinic and the kiosks were unplugged and parked in a corner. I was told to check in the old school way and only when I asked, I was given an old form to complete for travel pay. I was told the kiosks were gone forever.
I returned to that clinic 2 weeks later and the check in kiosks were back, plugged in and ready to go. There was no option for travel reimbursement, I was told to go to the Internet and figure it out. I haven't seen any deposits either.
I don't have any answer for you other than...welcome to your VA. They care!
Did you see combat, enemy fire,
or casualties? Were you or a buddy wounded, injured or hospitalized?
Do you have a claim pending for illness or injury related to your military service?
Do you have a service-connected condition?